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eLearning Series:
Relieve My Back Pain NOW!
( 23 pages )
Back
Pain Treatment: Acupuncture
Acupuncture
Acupuncture
is an ancient form of Chinese medicine that has been around
for more than 2,500 years
and is becoming
an increasingly
popular treatment for back pain. According
to the theory of acupuncture, energy—called
chi
or qi—flows
through
the body
along pathways called meridians. If the
flow of chi is interrupted, pain or illness can
occur. When that
happens,
very thin needles
can be inserted along the meridians to
correct the flow of chi.
No one is sure
exactly why acupuncture works. Eastern philosophy holds that
the
needles
unblock interrupted
chi. Western
medicine has a few theories of its own.
Some believe acupuncture stimulates
the nervous system and the 2,000 energy
centers in the body, which in turn triggers
the release
of natural
painkillers in the form of endorphins,
opioid peptides, and chemicals
from
the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
Others believe that
acupuncture needles help contracted muscles
relax, stimulate nerves in
the legs, and decrease inflammation of
the nerves in
the lower back.
Studies by the
National Institute of Health show that acupuncture is effective
in treating
back
pain, and
2,500 years of success
for the Chinese backs this up. Like
all
back pain treatments, acupuncture seems
to be
most effective
when used in
conjunction with other treatments.
It is also very safe, with no
known risks as long as you chose a
reputable practitioner. Needles
are sterile, disposable, and FDA-approved.
In the U.S. they are used only one
time, sealed before
use, and
disposed as
hazardous waste after treatment.
In
the United States there are over fifty acupuncture training
schools,
which require
approximately
3,000 credit hours
of study and offer the equivalent
of a Master’s Degree. Often
an undergraduate
degree is required for admittance
to an acupuncturist college. The first
two years
in acupuncture
school are spent in
classroom study, the third year is
spent as an apprentice to a licensed
acupuncturist, and the fourth year
is
spent as in intern working under
supervision on patients. States
have
different requirements
for acupuncturists, but all must
take a
state examinations and/ or a national
exam in order
to be licensed
to practice. To find an acupuncturist,
contact the American
Academy
of Medical Acupuncture.
During an
acupuncture treatment session, the practitioner will insert
anywhere
from one
to twenty needles
into various places
in the body. Some needles may go
in just under the skin, while others
may
go deeper
into muscle
and
fat. Needles
will be left
in from fifteen to thirty minutes.
The practitioner may turn needles
one way
or another after
inserting them
into the
body, or leave some in for only
a few seconds before removing them
and inserting them elsewhere in
the body. Don’t be surprised if the practitioner
treats your
back pain
by putting
needles in your ankles, knees,
or fingers. This is a technique
called percutaneous electrical
nerve stimulation (PENS), where needles
are inserted into nerve centers
and electrically
stimulated. You can expect to feel
relief for chronic pain in about
ten to fifteen treatments and sooner
for acute or sudden pain.
Other
things an acupuncturist may do:
- Use moxibustion,
an herb that is
burned onto the
needle before insertion
to stimulate the area being
treated;
- Cupping: burn
cotton in a glass cup, which is then placed on
the skin
to create a vacuum; and
- prescribe herbal
supplements in addition to physical treatment.
You may be
surprised to learn that acupuncture is rarely described
as painful. In fact,
many people find it
relaxing and even fall asleep
during
treatment. Some people feel
energized. One reason for this is the
type of needles
used. Acupuncture needles are
very different from hypodermic
needles.
Instead they
are very thin and fine, like hair. They are
also solid, whereas hypodermic needles
are not,
as they are made
to extract tissue. So getting
acupuncture needles inserted
into your skin will feel nothing
like getting a shot at the
doctor’s office.
When you are considering
acupuncture, it is important to make sure
the practitioner is
someone you
feel comfortable working
with. Look for someone who is interested
in your whole health and takes time to ask
and answer
questions.
Since some medical doctors
also practice acupuncture,
you will
want to make
sure they
are licensed in acupuncture in addition to
their other training. To
check if a
practitioner is licensed
and accredited, contact the American
Association
of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
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